The family of a disabled toddler is demanding action after she was refused access to a bus for the fourth time in a year.

They say Arriva drivers are ignoring company policy which requires them to give priority to disabled passengers.

Three-year-old Amy Scoby, who has cerebral palsy, had been to a hospital appointment in Middlesbrough last week with her mum Lisa and grandmother Susan Brunton when the three tried to catch the 27 bus back to Easterside from Linthorpe Road.

But the driver refused to let Amy, who was in a specially adapted pushchair, on his bus.

Mrs Brunton said: "There were two other people on the bus with pushchairs, but he wouldn't ask them to fold them away.

"He just said there was no room for a disabled buggy on the bus.

"But the buses were designed to accommodate disabled people with chairs and Arriva have told me disabled people have priority.

"This is the fourth time this has happened in the last 12 months, and Amy was left out in the cold weather having to wait for the next one."

The family say Arriva have written to apologise in the past and have pledged to launch an inquiry into earlier incidents.

"When it happened in October, they couldn't apologise enough and said it wouldn't happen again, but it does," she said.

In a letter, the firm's customer service manager said: "In the case of wheelchairs, they do have priority and a request would be made to fold down all pushchairs already on.

"I must point out that if the passengers refuse to do this and there is then no room for Mrs Brunton's child's chair, then there is nothing the driver can do."

Amy's mum Lisa said: "It's hard enough to get Amy around on the buses, but it's the only transport we have and if they turn her away we are stranded."

Arriva North East operations director Iain McInroy said: "We are concerned to learn of this customer's difficulties in gaining access to the 27 service.

"Buses on this service have easy access low floors suitable for parents with buggies, the elderly and wheelchair users.

"Unfortunately, even with such improved accessibility, it is not always possible to carry all intending passengers because of the limited space available.

"We have been notified of only one occasion where this customer and her daughter were unable to travel, but we would welcome the opportunity to further discuss this situation."